The refrigerated egg section at Homer’s Save-U-More supermarket was completely empty last week. Mark Hemstreet, the manager of Homer’s Save-U-More grocery store described a situation that is rapidly becoming common in Alaska. There are simply no eggs. It is the result of an epidemic of avian flu in the United States.
The first cases were reported in the United States in March last year. They have now affected almost every state. More than 52,000,000 domestic birds were killed or culled in an effort to stop the spread of this highly contagious strain known as H5N1.
Experts categorize avian flu strains as low- or high-pathogenic. This is based on severity of symptoms. Low pathogenic avian influenza viruses generally cause mild to no symptoms. However, highly pathogenic strains can cause serious illness and even death in domestic poultry.
Hemstreet stated that Save-U-More has two main egg suppliers, SuperValu and Costco. Both companies source eggs mainly from Washington State. This state saw an increase in highly pathogenic cases of avian influenza in December and January, which strained supply chains. Both small backyard flocks as well as commercial-scale operations such Oakdell Egg Farms have been affected by the disease . They recently had to kill more than a million birds .
Costco, like many other Alaska stores, has limited the number of eggs that customers can buy — and when they are available. Hemstreet stated that Save-U-More cannot buy the same number of cartons as other customers.
“We used to get about four to five feet tall pallets of eggs three times per week. He said that they now only give us two packages of each variety if they are available.
Hemstreet stated that eggs will be available for order once they have the ability to do so. “The SuperValu supplier increased their costs so we had to match them here.”
Nationally, egg prices are up 60%.
Amber Betts, spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of Agriculture said that farmers have learned a lot from the 2014-2015 avian flu outbreak, which was the most severe epidemic in American poultry. Betts stated that these cases were often caused by infected equipment or people who moved between infected farms.
The H5N1 virus spreads in Washington mainly through contact with wild birds. Wild birds can also carry the virus, but they don’t show symptoms. Betts stated that this makes it extremely difficult to control the disease.
Washington reports new incidents about every two weeks now, compared to the peak of several per day last summer. However, this is not a comfort for those who had to put their flocks down.
It’s devastating for all. It’s devastating to the flock owners, and it’s devastating for our veterinarians. And it’s just an annoying virus for everyone, Betts stated.
The best way to protect birds is to keep them inside. This can prove costly for farmers and difficult for the birds. The highly contagious H5N1 virus can be spread by contact with infected surfaces as well as sharing food sources and ponds with wild birds.
This has serious implications for Alaska. Bob Gerlach, the state veterinarian, stated that only five flocks have been reported infected thus far. However, he added that this is “probably an ongoing problem that we will be dealing with.”
Gerlach stated that the seasonal migration of millions wild birds is just around the corner and that federal and state agencies are working together to monitor how avian flu is faring in the Lower 48, South America.
Gerlach stated that there are a lot high-pathogen influenzas. “Wildbirds are only one transport mechanism, and they’re those that we don’t control.”
Although Alaskan poultry are not yet hard hit, the state has been tracking deaths and infections in shorebirds from the Southeast to North Slope. Birds are more vulnerable to avian flu when they are exposed to strains from other. Understanding environmental stressors during difficult migrations is more important than ever because of climate change.
Gerlach said that avian flu is not the only pathogen migrating birds could carry. A warming Arctic is increasing risk that other parasites like Asian longhorn or moose winter ticks could take root in Alaska.
“The animal’s health can have an impact on the environment’s health, and both the animal and the environment can have an impact on public health. He said that it all is interconnected.
The idea is slowly taking hold that scientific research should look at the impacts of specific events — like outbreaks of avian flu — on an ecosystem-level.
Falk Huettmann is a professor of wildlife ecology at University of Alaska Fairbanks. He believes that a big-picture approach to wildlife ecology is essential. According to Falk Huettmann, focusing on the mortality of poultry leaves huge gaps in our understanding of how and why avian influenza outbreaks happen.
He stated that ecological perspectives are essential and climate change must be considered. He added that without this, you are missing 80% of the picture about avian flu.
Huettmann stated that wild birds can be carriers of multiple pathogens, but not necessarily show symptoms. It’s therefore extremely hard to identify or predict how strains might mutate or become highly pathogenic.
“No one knows when these mutations will occur,” Huettmann said. Huettmann described it as a “time bomb”.
He said that even seemingly unrelated factors like climate change stress or environmental contamination such as heavy metals can have an impact on how serious avian influenza affects birds.
He said that even the term “avian influenza” is a simplified description of a disease that can affect many species. For example, researchers have discovered low levels of avian flu in animals from horses and pigs to seals, and whales. Even bears were recently positive for H5N1 in Alaska as well as Montana.
Researchers are closely monitoring the jump from mammals to humans. Researchers are paying close attention to the possibility that H5N1 was mutated in a European research. This mutation was discovered on a Spanish mink farm. World virologists are worried because the virus has developed a new mutation which allows it to spread easily from mammal-to-mammal. This mutation is alarming because it increases the likelihood of human-to-human transmission in the future.
Bob Gerlach, State Veterinarian of Alaska, said that migratory birds are making their way to Alaska from around the globe this spring. He also warned people about avian influenza. U.S. wildlife officials can be contacted by hunters and wildlife lovers to report unusual bird behavior or dead birds. Fish and Wildlife. People who have poultry should ensure that they keep their water and feed clean and comply with notifications from the state.
Gerlach warned Alaskans to be careful, particularly those who have poultry.
We know this from watching wild bird populations. He said that it appears there will be a risk in spring.
